Associated Press

VATICAN CITY

Pope Francis advised against making the pursuit of money, a career or success the basis for one’s whole life, urging in his Epiphany remarks to also resist “inclinations toward arrogance, the thirst for power and for riches.”

During a homily at Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 6, Pope Francis said people “often make do” with having “health, a little money and a bit of entertainment.”

He urged people to help the poor and others in need of assistance, giving freely without expecting anything in return.

Many Christians observe Epiphany to recall the three wise men who followed a star to find the baby Jesus. The pope suggested asking, “What star have we chosen to follow in our lives?”

“Some stars may be bright, but do not point the way. So it is with success, money, career, honors and pleasures, when these become our lives,” the pope said, adding that the path won’t ensure peace and joy.

Later, during an appearance from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis urged tens of thousands of faithful gathered below not to be indifferent to Jesus.

“Instead of conducting themselves in coherence with their own Christian faith, they follow the principles of the world, which lead to satisfying the inclinations toward arrogance, the thirst for power and for riches,” he said. He prayed, instead, that “the world makes progress down the path of justice and of peace.”

Pope Francis noted that some Eastern Rite Catholic and Orthodox churches were celebrating Christmas during the weekend and offered his cordial wishes to these believers.


“May this glorious celebration be a source of new spiritual vigor and of communion among us Christians,” he said.

In Istanbul, the Greek Orthodox Christian community celebrated Epiphany with the traditional blessing of the waters. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of Greek Orthodox Christians and the Archbishop of Constantinople, led the liturgy last Saturday at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George for Epiphany, commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.

Several blessings of the waters took place across Istanbul. The ceremony consists of a cross being tossed into the water to be retrieved by swimmers.

In many places in Europe, Epiphany is a day where children receive gifts or enjoy special entertainment. Rome’s Piazza Navona is famed for a holiday market with many toy stalls.

Children believe that Befana, a witch on a broom, brings the well-behaved toys, while those who haven’t behaved get lumps of charcoal.

For crowd control and security, visitors this year to Piazza Navona patiently underwent mental detector checks. Authorities counted those entering the vast oval space to ensure there were no more than 12,000 at a time.

On city sidewalks throughout Spain, parents and their children came out to enjoy the day. On Epiphany eve last Friday, streets across Spain were packed with families watching Epiphany parades with decorative floats, camels, clowns and jugglers. Some performers tossed candy to the crowds.

In recent years, security for Epiphany and other holidays has been tightened in Madrid and Barcelona amid fears of potential terrororist attacks, with large vehicles banned from streets near the parades.

Pope Francis also recalled traditions such as in Poland, where many families join in processions recalling the three wise men, also known as the three kings or magi. In some countries, Epiphany — and not Christmas — is the holiday to exchange gifts among loved ones.